Jazz singer and sax player, Kim Cypher, has become a regular on the Swindon jazz scene and last year toured to promote her debut album, Make Believe.

Kim is returning to The Royal Oak, Devizes Road, in Swindon, on Tuesday, January 8, as a warm-up gig for her new album tour, Love Kim, which begins in February. Also on Kim’s tour, which begins at Cleeves Concerts, will be Funk Legend Pee Wee Ellis.

A couple of years ago Kim and her drummer husband Mike decided to follow their dreams and give up their day jobs. They haven’t looked back, including a private concert for the prime minister Theresa May.

Sheila Harrod, artistic director and founder of the Kentwood Show Choir, went to see Kim perform at a gig in Swindon’s Old Town. Sheila was sitting in the front row. During a pause in the concert Sheila whispered to her friend that she wished Kim would sing It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing, because that was the song sung at her husband’s funeral, and had a special place in her heart. By a stroke of fate Kim began to sing that song.

Sheila chatted to Kim after the gig and discovered that the musician hardly ever sang that song and had included it on a whim for that night only.

“We discovered that we both believe in fate,’’ said Kim. “I told Sheila I was looking for a choir to feature on my new record and now we have become friends.’’

The track entitled Rising From Dust was a totally new direction for the jazz singer, as it was in collaboration with a rock band, led by BD Lenz, from New York. Serendipity was again working on the day Kim met the guitarist.

“It was weird, I was doing the sound check for my gig and this American band walked in. We had been double booked so we ended up singing together and BD said that next time he was over here we should go on tour,’’ said Kim.

The song was recorded in Swindon by Juanjo Lopez Vidal. Sheila and her Kentwood singers were thrilled to take part in the recording and in returnKim was the special guest at last year’s Kentwood Christmas Cracker.

The singer’s final concert of the tour, promoting Make Believe, was at The Stables, in Wavendon, owned by the jazz superstar Cleo Laine, who is the patron of the Kentwood Show Choir.

Cleo is a close friend of Sheila’s, so Kim invited Sheila to attend the concert and they both met Cleo beforehand. “I will treasure memories of the evening and the opportunity to briefly meet Dame Cleo Laine. Such an inspiring lady and such a meeting of warmth and sharing memories of music and life in the industry.” said Kim.

The Swindon choir were also included on the music video for the song on Kim’s new album. She said: “It was spectacular, Kentwood were on the video and it was set in Cheltenham College Chapel and featured B. D. Lenz.’’

The Kim Cypher Quintet, including Rory McInroy on piano, Lee Jones on guitar, Tom Clarke-Hill on double bass and Mike Cypher on drums, will be playing in Swindon from 8pm. For more details call 01793 524303. - Flicky Harrison